Product Description

"I hate school! I hate ratings! I won't reach higher! I won't strive harder! I won't make tomorrow better than today!" In the walled city of Aramanth, exams are everything - not only for children, but for whole families. When Kestrel Hath dares to rebel, the Chief Examiner humiliates her father and sentences the family to the harshest punishment. Desperate to save them, Kestrel discovers that life in Aramanth was once different - and if she can find the secret of the Wind Singer, maybe life can change for the better once more. So she and her twin brother, Bowman, set out on a terrifying journey - to the true source of the evil that grips Aramanth...

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #8787 in Books
• Published on: 2008-04-07
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 352 pages

Review
"* On The Wind Singer the Guardian said: 'Full of inventiveness, action and passion'; the Daily Telegraph said: 'In terms of imagination and sheer scale, it's as ambitious as books get.'; The Sunday Times said: 'An accessible, rebellious and fast-paced adventure.' * Noman, book 3 of The Noble Warriors trilogy, published in September 2007. The Noble Warriors has received huge acclaim. On Jango the Guardian said: 'A thrilling story of integrity.' On Seeker the Daily Telegraph said 'An engrossing and thoughtful adventure.'"

About the Author
William Nicholson is best known as a successful Hollywood screenwriter, whose credits include the BAFTA award-winning Shadowlands and Oscar-winning Gladiator. He also written other films: Sarafina, Nell, First Knight, Grey Owl. He has written and directed his own film, Firelight; and written stage plays: Map of the Heart, Katherine Howard and The Retreat from Moscow. Nicholson's first trilogy for young readers, The Wind on Fire, won the Smarties Gold Award and the Blue Peter Book Award. The first two books in The Noble Warriors trilogy: Seeker and Jango, have received wide acclaim. Nicholson has been cited as one of the most gifted and imaginative writers alive in the world today. His adult titles include The Trial of True Love and The Society of Others. William lives in Sussex with his wife Virginia, and their three children.

Customer Reviews

Original, Rich and Enjoyable
Kestrel Hath and her Brother, Bowman, are twins in the city of Aramanth in a wonderfully imagined world full of magic and surprises. But their world is not the perfect place it once was, for the Wind Singer that overlooks their city has been broken for many years, and in the mean time the city has been overtaken by a rigidly enforced regime that ensures everyone is put to work in the place best suited to their skills and effort.

From the age of 2, children are educated and examined repeatedly, and their scores are added to the scores of their parents who also undertake regular examinations. The scores then calculate their priveleges, where they may live and what colour clothing they may wear.

But the Hath family think differently to other people, and they see that the system - rather than achieving a wonderful egalitarian society - actually binds them and imprisons them. And when Kestrel one day snaps in a school lesson, she awakes a chain of events that bring down the wrath of the chief examiner and set in motion something much larger and more dangerous than anyone would have believed possible.

I first looked at this book when it was newly published. I picked it up to buy it, but it was on one of those "3 for 2" displays where you can get 3 books for the price of two. As I could not find 3 books I wanted I resented paying full price for it and put it back! (Waterstones take note - you would sell me more books just by discounting them a little instead!)

It is a pity it took me so long to actually buy this book, because it is excellent. I was expecting a good fantasy story, but the story I read exceeded my expectations on two counts:

1) The characterisations were very well done, and often very amusing. The conversation Bowman had with an official as Kestrel climbed the Wind Singer had me laughing out loud. I instantly fell in love with the Hath family. Not that they were a perfect family, and you see their warts and all - particularly as they discover friendship in an unlikely place. The character of Mumpo is also wonderful.

2) The world that Aramanth sits in is a richly imagined but very fresh and non stereotyped world. I get very fed up with fantasy books that set themselves in a kind of medieval world, just because that is how Tolkien did it. But this is not one of those books. The world described here shows the ability of the author to imagine something bold and new and very engaging.

The book is written with young adults as an intended audience, but adult readers should enjoy this too - and younger children may well love it too. As a rough guide, I would probably not give it to anyone much younger than 10, or older than 95 (although the latter only because the print might then be a little too small!)

All in all this was a richly imagined book with good characters, some good humour and plenty of action as well as things to make the reader pause and consider afterwards - particularly on the nature of freedom.

amazing
I read this when i was about 12 and absolutely loved it! nicholson perfectly encapsulates the struggle of Kestrel trying to survive in an exam obsessed society. The story depicts Kestrel and her brother Bowban escaping Aramath to discover the secret of the windsinger. With exciting adventures and a wonderful sory-line its hard to go wrong in this book. The climax leads to the discovery of the army of Morah, who instead of your classic evil, ugly villians are a remarkambly good-looking and friendly enemy. This adds to the shock and terror when you realise the size and capacity of such an army.

a wonderful children's book that should be read by any adventure seeking child or adult.

WOW
I found this book in the school library and just reading the blurb made me want to read more...& more...& more.I've only just finished it and I loved it sooo much! Any one who want's to read it I suggest you do!